The Senate impeachment court will determine whether former Davao City court sheriff Abe Andres, who was punched by Vice President Sara Duterte in 2011, must testify in her impeachment trial after he requested to be excused from the proceedings, the House prosecution said.
House trial spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the prosecution understands Andres’ reluctance to revisit the incident.
“We understand the apprehension of Mr. Abe. That’s a raw emotion because what he experienced was personal and embarrassing,” Alonto Adiong said, adding that Andres’ only duty at the time was to execute a court order.
Andres, now a human resource management officer at the Supreme Court, is listed as a potential witness for Article IV of the impeachment complaint. House prosecutor Manila Rep. Joel Chua clarified that Andres will not be asked to relitigate the 2011 incident but may provide testimony relevant to Duterte’s alleged violent behavior.
Alonto Adiong stressed that the Senate impeachment court, not the prosecution, has the authority to issue subpoenas and determine which witnesses will testify.
“As a matter of compliance, we submitted a list of potential witnesses and evidence. It is the court that decides who to invite and subpoena,” he said. “Once a subpoena is issued, a witness’s personal choice is no longer relevant.”
The House panel also rejected claims that the proceedings are partisan, emphasizing that the Senate is performing a constitutional duty.
“The court is a non-partisan venue tasked with enforcing accountability under the Constitution,” Alonto Adiong said.
The Senate impeachment trial is scheduled to begin on July 6, following the completion of pre-trial proceedings on June 25.